title: Prognostic value of arrhythmogenic markers in systemic hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prognostic value of arrhythmogenic markers in hypertensive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and fourteen hypertensive patients without symptomatic coronary disease, systolic dysfunction, electrolyte disturbances or anti-arrhythmic therapy were included. Recordings were made of 12-lead standard ECGs with calculations of QT interval dispersion, 24 h Holter ECGs (204 patients), echocardiography (187 patients) and signal-averaged ECGs (125 patients).
  
  
  RESULTS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy was found in 63 patients (33.7%), non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (Lown class IV b) in 33 patients (16.2%), ventricular late potentials in 27 patients (21.6%). Mortality: after a mean follow-up of 42.4 +/- 26.8 months, global mortality was 11.2% (24 patients), cardiac mortality 7.9% (17 patients), sudden death 4.2% (nine patients). Univariate analysis: predictors of global, cardiac and sudden death were age > or = 65 years, ECG strain pattern, Lown class IV b and QT interval dispersion > 80 ms (P < or = 0.01). Left ventricular mass index was closely related to cardiac mortality (P = 0.002). Multivariate analysis: only Lown class IV b was an independent predictor of global (RR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2-6.0) and cardiac mortality (RR 3.5, 95% CI 1.2-9.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In hypertensive patients, non-sustained ventricular tachycardia has a prognostic value.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Rangueil University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galinier
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balanescu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fourcade
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dorobantu
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Albenque
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Massabuau
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Doazan
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fauvel
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bounhoure
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*